The higher classification of the Encyrtidae used in this catalog differs drastically from that
proposed in the 1951 edition. Some explanation is necessary. Burks has considered the Sig-
niphoridae and Aphelinidae as subfamilies of the Encyrtidae. In the 1951 catalog the aphelinids
were considered a subfamily of the Eulophidae and the signiphorids were treated as a distinct
family (Thysanidae). The aphelinids and signiphorids appear more nearly related to the Encyr-
tidae than to other families of chalcidoids. In placing the aphelinids under the Encyrtidae, the
subfamilies of apheUnids (.sex.sH Ferriere, 1965, Faune de I'Europe Bassin Medit, 1: 1-206) have
been relegated to tribal status.

Recently Trjapitzin (1973, Ent. Rev. 52 (1): 118-125; Ent. Rev. 52 (2): 287-295) has treated the
higher classification of the Encyrtidae {sensu stricto) and provided a radical reorganization at
the tribal and subfamilial levels. His classification has been adopted in the present treatment of
the Encyrtidae. In so doing, however, the placement of several genera remains undecided. These
will be treated in a separate publication.

In this section the term "cosmopolitan" means the species is found throughout North America.

Aphelinus asychis Walker
Okla., Tex., Cahf. Imported into the United States from Iran for the biological
control of the greenbug, Schizaphis grayninuni, in the midwest. In California the
parasite attacks R. ntaidis along the Pacific coast. Host: Scliizaphis gratninus (Rond.),
Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch). The synonomy listed here is essentially that of Ferriere

Centrodora is a cosmopolitan genus containing approximately 30 species. The species of Cen-
trodora attack Orthoptera and Homoptera eggs, but at least one species is purported to
parasitize Diptera and other Hymenoptera. A host-parasite catalog of Centrodora has been
prepared by Hayat, 1974.

This small Holarctic genus is composed of primary internal aphid parasites.

Foerster(1856) described Mesidia in a keybut did not include any species. Subsequently, Mayr
(1904) described M. punnla which was the first and only included species. Mercet (1928) in-
dicated and Nowicki (1929) suggested that puniila was a junior synonym of Myina annulipes
Walker. Graham (1961) was unable to find the type-specimen of annulipes, but on the basis of
three collections of specimens agreeing with Walker's original decription, Nowicki's examination
of the type of piimila, and Mercet's illustration of the male antenna of the specimen thought to
be annulipes, Graham concluded the two were synonymous.

Azotus is a cosmopolitan genus consisting of fewer than 30 species that are usually hyper-
parasites of armored-scale insects, whiteflies, and possibly beetles and cicada eggs according to
Nikol'skaya (1952).

This genus consists of less than 10 species. One species, C. iitilis Doutt, acts in concert with
Aphytis ttiacitlicornis (Masi) to achieve biological control of the olive scale, Parlatoria oleae
(Colv.), in California. This is an excellent e.xample of multiple parasite importation success.

The genus Eucarsia is morphologically similar to Prospaltella. Encarsia consists of about 50
species distributed throughout the world. They are primary internal parasites of whiteflies and
armored scale insects. Males of some species are purported to be hyperparasites on females of
the same species.

This African genus of coccophagines consists of only a few species which are similar to Coc-
copliagus. The type-species was imported into California for the biological control of the black
scale, Saissetia oleae (Oliv.).

Pkyscus consists of about 40 species distributed throughout the world. Females are internal
parasites of scale insects; males develop as hyperparasites of females of their own species
(sometimes called facultative adelphoparasitism) or on other primary parasites (sometimes
called heterotrophic arrhenoparasitism).

The genus Prospaltella is cosmopolitan and contains about 40 species. Morphologically it
resembles Aspidiotiphagus and Eucarsia. Many species are primary internal parasites of scale
insects and whiteflies, but some species have hyperparasitic males.

Eretmocerus contains about 25 species which are found throughout the world, but predomi-
nantly in the tropics. They are parasites of whiteflies and some have been important in biological
control (see DeBach, 1974).

The names Signiphoridae and Thysanidae have been used interchangeably. Thysanus Walker
is older (1840) and Thysanidae was used in the 1951 edition of the catalog. Signiphorinae is used
here because it is the commonly used name. Signiphora Ashmead and Thysanus have been
synonymized. However, Rozanov (1965) and others have shown that the genera are distinct. The
Signiphorinae were characterized by Howard (1894).

De Santis (1968) divided the Signiphoridae into the Signiphorinae and Thysaninae. His sub-
famiUes have been retained as tribes.

ClauKcuid consists of less than a dozen described species, most of which are African. With
more research on the group it should prove to be considerably larger. All known species are
parasites of mealybugs. At least one species, C. purpurea, is e.xceptionally important in biologi-
cal control of the Comstock mealybug in the United States and Canada.

Type-species: Chdlcospis pcrg
Closely related to AcHasins but considerably smaller, Chalcaspis seems to have adapted itself
to more xeric conditions than Aoia.sins. Clidlcaspis consists of less than 10 species which are
also mealybug parasites.

The taxonomic status of members of the genus Arliopoidens has been confused but recently
clarified by the work of Tachikawa (1974) and Annecke (unpublished). Part of the problem stems
from the misinterpretation of Tclrucnoiiu.s Westwood. Arhopoideu>> is comprised of less than 10
species all of which are mealybug parasites.

It is difficult to estimate the size of Apln/cus because of the confusion which has existed over
the genera Metaphijcas and Aplujcus. In the 1951 Hymenoptera Catalog the species of
Metaphifcns were synonymized under Aphijcus. Compere and Annecke (1960) discussed the
problem and indicated that sound structural differences exist between the genera. Graham
(1969) noted that Mercet misidentified Encyrtus liederaceus Westwood, the type-species of
Euapligcus. Most species of Euaphycus fall under Metaphycus whereas the type-species is as-
signable to Aphycus.

The cosmopolitan genus Blastotlnix has been poorly studied and at present consists of ap-
proximately thirty-five species. All species appear to be primary, internal parasites of coccids
and kermococcids. Undoubtedly, the North American fauna is larger than indicated here.

This small but distinctive genus can readily be identified by its bright scarlet coloration as the
name implies. Species of Erytlnvplujciin apparently parasitize eriococcids. An undescribed spe-
cies parasitizes a pseudococcid of the genus SteHniuitonierinx.

As indicated earlier, controversy has e.xisted over the status of Aplit/cits and Mctupln/ciis.
Most encyrtid specialists now believe the genera are distinct and Trjapitzin (1973) has placed
them in separate subtribes of the Aphycini.

The only species of this genus was imported from Europe in attempts to control the Rhodes
grass scale, Antoniua g raw in is (Maskell). Biological control of this pest is achieved by another
parasite, Neo(lits»ietia saugwani (Subba Rao), but T. eiiropeaea (Mercet) has become
established.

This is a small genus, consisting of fewer than five species. They are parasites of dryinids, but
the North American species was reported to have been recovered from a mealybug. An undeter-
mined species occurs in Florida on Dijsniicoccit.s patidae (Rao).

AptcreHciirtiin zoiuitiis Alam, 1957. Roy. Ent. Soc. London, Trans. 109 (15): 439, 441. ♀.
Although Eiici/rfH-s lambinas Walker has priority over ClieiloiieiiiKs niicroplKigns
Mayr, the latter name is well known and has been frequently published. Therefore
niicropli(u/iis is retained here as the accepted name in the interest of stability.

This genus has been recovered in India, Australia and the Holarctic Region. It contains four
or five species. In North America it is represented by material from California under a manus-
cript name of Girault.

Approximately thirty species have been assigned to Aclntfsopopliagns and Procliiloneiirus.
All of the species originally assigned to Aclntisopophagiis are hyperparasitic on mealybugs and
perhaps soft scale insects. The genus is cosmopolitan.

This is a Holaractic genus consisting of only a few species. The host associations of Ti)ieoplioc-
toiuis are not clear. Armatits has been reported as an anobiid parasite in Europe (its host still
unknown in North America) whereas ti)n'a('ronis attacks tineid larvae.

Tyndarichus has less than 10 described species some of which are apparently hyperparasitic
on other chalcidoids that attack Lepidoptera eggs. An undetermined species is found from Wis. w.
to Mont., s. to Nebr., Fla., Calif.

Coelopencyrtus contains about ten species, all of which are parasites of aculeate Hymenop-
tera. The genus appears throughout the world, with the possible e.xception of South America.
With more thorough investigations of aculeate biology Coelopoicyrtus may become a larger
genus.

This is a large, cosmopolitan genus whose members are polyembryonic parasites of Lepidop-
tera. Polyembryony in this instance seems to be an evolutionary strategy whereby a parasite of
comparatively low reproductive potential has succeeded in maximizing its efficiency by
completely consuming a host sometimes thousands of times larger than its own body size.

Parablasfothrix contains only a few species and is Holarctic in distribution. The type-species
has been reported as a parasite of buprestid larvae whereas the North American representa-
tive of the genus has been recorded from small Lepidoptera.

This genus has not been recorded from Africa or South America, but it probably occurs there
also. Pentalitomastix presently consists of fewer than five species of polyembryonic parasites of
Lepidoptera larvae.

This genus presently contains fewer than ten species. It is Holarctic in distribution and
parasitizes Coccidae. There is an undescribed species in California and Washington which feeds
on Asterolecanium arabidis (Sign.).

Habrolepis contains about a dozen species which develop as primary internal parasites of scale
insects. Some species have been used in biological control programs with varying degrees of suc-
cess. The genus has not been reported from South America and one species, H. wiixi, was in-
troduced into North America for biological control of the California red scale.

This genus contains three species and it appears to be Nearctic in distribution. The occurrence
of one species, P. diaspidis, in the Palearctic appears due to accidental introduction with
parasitized host material.

The names Microteiys and Sceptrophorns have been used interchangeably in the literature.
Rosen (1973, Bui. Zool. Nomencl. 30 (2): 108-111) proposed that Sceptroplionts be suppressed.

The actual number of Microtenjs spp. can only be speculated at this time. Currently we recog-
nize over 170 names in the genus, some of which are undoubtedly junior synonyms. The genus
probably contains over 100 valid species. The New World fauna is poorly known.

This genus is important to biological control because many species are primary parasites of
soft scale insects. Representatives of Microterys have been reported on all families of scale in-
sects except the Diaspididae and Asterolecanidae.

Oobiiis is a small genus, consisting of about five species, and is Holarctic and Ethiopian in dis-
tribution. These insects are parasites in the eggs of buprestid beetles. An undetermined species
is found in Arizona and California. It has been taken from Piniis )iniricafa, Libocedrus decur-
rens, and reared from Melanophila califomica Van Dyke on P. ponderosa.

Interestingly, both Ferriere and Erdos and Novicky selected the same generic name for
identical species. Ferriere's publication date preceeds that of Erdos and Novicky and therefore
has priority. This monotypic genus parasitizes mealybugs on Plimgniites.

This is a Holarctic genus containing 13 species. Host records for this genus are incomplete, but
at least two species have been associated with Aclerda and Trionytnu.s. These host genera be-
long to different coccoid families and are associated with grasses.

Apparently some authors have confused this genus with Rhopns. Pseudorhopus is Holarctic
and contains four species. They parasitize Pliysokennes, but also have been reported attacking
Lecanintii, Lepidosaphes, and other armored scale insect genera.

Psilophrys is another small, Holarctic genus composed of three or four species. One species
has been reported attacking Kenties. Material in the U. S. National Museum Collection indicates
that aniiata may parasitize Aroga.

This is a monotypic genus from Australia. Quaylea whittieri was introduced along with other
parasites of the Black scale complex in the belief that it was a primary parasite. It is actually a
hyperparasite, as suspected by foreign-explorer George Compere.

Psyllaepliagiis is a genus with over 100 described species. It is probably cosmopolitan, but has
not been reported from the Neotropical Region. As the name implies, species of Psyllaephagus
are parasites of psyllids. However, some species apparently are hyperparasites of other species
of PsyllaepliaguH.